Title:Antioxidants, Hormetic Nutrition, and Autism
Volume: 22
Issue: 7
Author(s): Sergio Modafferi*, Gabriella Lupo*, Mario Tomasello, Francesco Rampulla, Marialaura Ontario, Maria Scuto, Angela Trovato Salinaro, Antonio Arcidiacono*, Carmelina Daniela Anfuso, Maria Legmouz, Fatima-Zahra Azzaoui, Agostino Palmeri, Sestina Spano, Francesca Biamonte, Gaetano Cammilleri, Tilman Fritsch, Alena Sidenkova, Edward Calabrese, Uwe Wenzel and Vittorio Calabrese
Affiliation:
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, 950125, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, 950125, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, 950125, Italy
Keywords:
Autism spectrum disorders, vitagenes, antioxidants, hormesis, C. elegans, mushrooms.
Abstract: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) includes a heterogeneous group of complex neurodevelopmental
disorders characterized by atypical behaviors with two core pathological manifestations: deficits
in social interaction/communication and repetitive behaviors, which are associated with disturbed
redox homeostasis. Modulation of cellular resilience mechanisms induced by low levels of stressors
represents a novel approach for the development of therapeutic strategies, and in this context, neuroprotective
effects of a wide range of polyphenol compounds have been demonstrated in several in vitro
and in vivo studies and thoroughly reviewed. Mushrooms have been used in traditional medicine for
many years and have been associated with a long list of therapeutic properties, including antitumor,
immunomodulatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, and hepatoprotective effects. Our recent studies
have strikingly indicated the presence of polyphenols in nutritional mushrooms and demonstrated
their protective effects in different models of neurodegenerative disorders in humans and rats. Although
their therapeutic effects are exerted through multiple mechanisms, increasing attention is focusing
on their capacity to induce endogenous defense systems by modulating cellular signaling processes
such as nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathways.
Here we discuss the protective role of hormesis and its modulation by hormetic nutrients in
ASD.